Project Summaries

Samuels and Company has provided commercial real estate services for a wide range of retail projects throughout the country and internationally. The following is a brief description of some of our current and prior projects.

Current Projects

Merlin Entertainments PLC: Merlin Entertainments PLC is the second largest entertainment attractions operator in the world with over 115 attractions in 23 countries on four continents. Samuels & Company has been Merlin’s exclusive real estate representative in North America since 2007. In this capacity, Samuels & Company provides advisory, site selection, acquisition and disposition services, and asset management services for five of Merlin’s international brands including Madame Tussauds, SeaLife Center, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Dungeons and The Eye. As part of the services provided, Samuels & Company has programmed and directed the Company’s North American expansion plan and works closely with corporate executives, attraction general managers, local real estate brokers and landlords/developers to select the best sites and negotiate the best lease terms for each of Merlin’s specific brands. Over the past nine years, the Company has assisted Merlin in 25 locations in developing five Madame Tussauds; seven LEGOLAND Discovery Centers; eight SEA LIFE Centers; one Dungeon; and one world class Observation Wheel; in 20 markets in the U.S. and Canada, with more attractions scheduled to be opened within the next three years. See case study

iFLY Indoor Skydiving: iFLY is a retail entertainment concept that offers the experience of human flight through indoor skydiving. Samuels & Company provides advisory and tenant representation services to iFLY and has assisted this company in developing and implementing its national expansion program. Samuels & Company assisted iFLY's senior executives in their site selection strategy to prioritize markets and developments in a timely manner to meet their strategic goals for shareholders. The Company selected the finest affiliated brokers in each strategic market and created a national real estate brokerage network through which iFLY has gained broad exposure to real estate site opportunities and property owners. Through Samuels & Company's efforts, iFLY has successfully opened 20 locations in the U.S. and is positioned to open 10 to 12 new locations per year for the next three years. See case study

Universal CityWalk Hollywood: Samuels & Company provides advisory and leasing services to Universal CityWalk Hollywood, a 390,000 square foot, three block outdoor entertainment, dining and shopping promenade, anchored by Universal Studios Hollywood and a 19-screen AMC Theatre with a state-of-the-art IMAX. Initial responsibilities included evaluating the existing tenants and their current leases; analyzing competitive retail and entertainment/retail centers in the Los Angeles area; creating proposals for several different remerchandising programs; and advising senior management at Universal on "best in class" new leasing strategy to maximize asset value. Samuels & Company continues to provide owner representation and leasing services to Universal CityWalk in their ongoing efforts to improve the tenant mix and competitive position in the marketplace. See case study

Oxigeno: Samuels & Company is a realty advisor to the real estate development division of Cuestamoras, a leader in Latin America across a broad range of industries. Samuels & Company is assisting the Cuestamoras to create a tenant-mix and leasing strategy for a major mixed-use entertainment/retail project in San Jose, Costa Rica, including retail, dining, entertainment uses; leasing plans; and implement marketing and leasing strategy to identify and select key anchor and major tenants.

1Up Fitness Group North America: 1Up Fitness Group North America/McFIT Global Group: 1Up Fitness Group NA is an innovative multi-product fitness company and a subsidiary of McFIT Global Group, Europe’s leading fitness operator with over 260 fitness clubs currently in six countries with over 1.4 million members. McFIT Global Group is a fitness pioneer and stands for innovative ideas as well as unique fitness and lifestyle concepts. 1Up Fitness Group’s products include fitness club concepts and fitness apps. The Company recently expanded to Santa Monica, California, to launch “lifestyle/fitness centers” in the North American market under the trade name of John Reed. Samuels & Company, Inc. has been retained by 1Up Fitness Group to manage the entire site search effort initially in Southern California, with a plan of a nationwide roll-out program. This includes the creation of marketing material to explain this new brand and concept, the identification of appropriate sites in a crowded marketplace, and the negotiation of all economic terms and conditions for 2-4 flagship locations in Southern and Northern California. With this expansion of the John Reed brand in North America, 1Up Fitness Group is looking forward to continuing their efforts in revolutionizing and reshaping the entire fitness market!

Big Al's: Big Al’s is a first-class, state-of-the-art, smoke-free entertainment facility with upscale bowling lanes, thrilling arcade fare, a larger-than-life big game sports bar and grill experience and a plethora of party and event opportunities. Big Al’s caters to young families looking for a place to spend time together, but also provides a fun and exciting playground for adults and businesses as well. The Company currently has four locations in Washington, Idaho and California and is looking to expand in Southern California and the Northwest. Samuels & Company, Inc. has been retained as their exclusive Advisor/Broker to assist Big Al’s in this expansion, including directing all site selection efforts and lease negotiations.

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games: Andretti Indoor Karting & Games is a new location based indoor motorsports-themed entertainment concept which offers a high-speed karting track with multiple modular track designs, over 120 state-of-the-art arcade games, a two-level laser tag arena, an elevated ropes course featuring the first curved zip line, professional CXC racing simulators with VR technology, upscale bowling and a thrilling interactive Dark Ride motion theater. As the exclusive Advisor/Broker to the Company, Samuels & Company, Inc. will develop a strategy to maximize growth and manage the national roll out of this entertainment retail concept. In this process, Samuels & Company will prioritize markets, develop a marketing strategy, manage its national real estate brokers network, direct site selection efforts, as well as negotiate all LOI’s, lease and purchase agreements.

THE VOID: THE VOID is establishing the gold-standard in a new form of virtual-reality based immersive entertainment concept that empowers visitors to step beyond reality. THE VOID takes a unique approach of combining digital environments with physical stages and interactive elements to provide a powerful immersive hyper-reality experience. These are shared, multi-player experiences for friends, families and groups to enjoy together. THE VOID opened its first public experience in partnership with Sony Pictures at Madame Tussauds-New York in July 2016. The second experience was opened in Dubai in March 2017. The Company has retained Samuels & Company as their Advisor in its development and execution of its expansion plan and as their exclusive Broker in Southern California.

Prior Projects

Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG): Advised highly prominent international entertainment/real estate conglomerate in the specific merchandising and leasing strategy for a $1 billion development adjacent to Staples Center arena in Los Angeles, California. The responsibilities included preparing, administering and evaluating a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a major national theater tenant as one of the anchor tenants of the project. Additionally, provided leasing services as Owner’s Representative to submit and negotiate leases for multiple national, regional, and local restaurateurs, as well as assisted in the negotiations with several entertainment retailers. See case study

Farmers Market/Gilmore Estate: Consulted with property owner of the Gilmore Estate analyzing responses to their Request for Proposals in the selection of the developer for the development of The Grove in Los Angeles, California; assisted in negotiating the Master Ground Lease with Caruso Affiliated Holdings. See case study

Turner Dale Associates (TDA Investment Group)/Canyon Springs Marketplace - Riverside, CA: Samuels & Company was selected by TDA to create the "highest and best" use for a property owned by their client, Construction Laborers Pension Trust of Southern California, a large labor pension fund. This 15 acre site, named the Canyon Springs Marketplace in Riverside, CA, was located in a newly developing market with significant competition. Samuels & Company directed the design, leasing, development and entitlement process for this power/community center. This project consists of approximately 185,000 square feet with anchor tenants including Marshalls, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, Cost Plus World Markets, Petco, and Jo-Ann Stores, as well as other retail (Lane Bryant, OshGosh/Carters) and restaurants (Starbucks, Rubio’s) and specialty stores (FedEx/Kinko’s, Union Bank). See case study

Redding Oasis – Redding, CA:Directed the planning, leasing, entitlement and overall development for a major project in Redding, California totaling over 1,100,000 square feet. This town center/ lifestyle center is designed to be one of the dominant retail commercial centers located in the Northern Central Valley area of California serving the local, regional and tourist trade.

Mid-Town Plaza (Pico/San Vicente/Venice): Provided consulting and development services for all aspects of the planning, designing, leasing, obtaining entitlements and arranging public and private financing for a near $100 million, 440,000 square foot project originally envisioned as big box uses like Home Depot/Costco in the mid-town area of Los Angeles, California.

Robertson Properties (affiliate of Pacific Theatres): Represented ownership in entitling property in Lakewood for a Kohl’s store; analyzed two residential zoned properties and one industrial property for their highest and best use; consulted on various leasing and development aspects for other real estate holdings. See case study

Colony Capital/Meadowlands-Xanadu: Samuels & Company provided leasing and tenant-mix advisory services to an institutional owner group lead by Colony Capital Inc. for Meadowlands-Xanadu, a megamall project located in New Jersey’s Meadowlands complex. See case study

Reliable Properties: Provided advisory and design development services on a high rise Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in the mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles, California.

Regent Properties: Negotiated substantial lease agreement by and between Crate & Barrel and the City of Beverly Hills for a new store in Beverly Hills.

Sol Price (founder of the Price Club): Provided leasing and development analysis for a potential power center development in Roseville, California.

TrizecHahn Development, Inc.: Served as Senior Development Director on a proposed regional retail project in Honolulu, Hawaii; analyzed and provided advisory services for potential developments in Seattle, Washington and Denver, Colorado.

Combined Properties, Inc.: Provided advisory services for entitlements and community outreach for a potential re-development of an existing asset in Sherman Oaks, California; assisted in due diligence for the purchase of a large shopping center portfolio (over 50 centers) in Southern California.

DDR/Oliver McMillan: Served as Senior Development Director for the leasing and development of several large regional and community retail/entertainment centers in California.

Glimcher Realty Trust: Performed due diligence for acquisition and development of several regional centers in Southern California.

Elder and Enrico Trusts: Negotiated leases with McDonald’s and Safeway Supermarket for private family holdings.Granite Partners: Assisted in analysis and disposition strategy of regional outlet project in San Diego, California; assisted in several presentations to institutional owners for dispositions of assets.

House of Blues: Directed all leasing and development efforts for creating new facilities in San Diego and San Jose, California and Tokyo, Japan.

AMC Entertainment, Inc.: Assisted in leasing and development efforts for a mixed-use urban entertainment project in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

National Geographic:Samuels & Company advised and assisted National Geographic in terminating their Lease with Pacific Theaters at their IMAX theater in Hawaii.

New Zealand Natural: Developed initial strategy for Southern California for expanding international high-end ice cream.